Question

What does the word 'Rasa' originally mean?

• A. Joy and happiness
• B. Sap, juice, taste, or flavour
• C. Aesthetic beauty in poetry only
• D. A type of dramatic performance

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Sap, juice, taste, or flavour

The word "Rasa" originally comes from Sanskrit and means sap, juice, taste, or flavor. In the context of Indian aesthetics, particularly in the Nāṭyaśāstra, it refers to the essence or aesthetic experience derived from a work of art, especially in drama and poetry. Rasa is the emotional essence relished by the audience when the Bhavas (emotions) are effectively expressed in a performance.